Improved washing-machine



Pl-PETERS, www.LWNDGRAPHERA WASHINGTON, D C

tta-iat .at @time GEORGE L. WITSIL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND CHARLES. MERRILL- OF DETROIT, ,MICHIGAN Letters Patent No. 97,018, dated November 16, 1869.

IMPROVED WASHING-MACHINE.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same I, GEORGE L. W'ITSIL, of the city and county 0f PhiladelphiaLaud State of Pennsylvania, have iuvented certain Improvements in Washing-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the annexed drawings, being a part thereof.

rIhis invention relates to washing-machines for washing clothing of various kinds, wool, rags, and other material; and Y It consists in the combination and arrangement of the parts of which the machine is composed.

Figure 1 is a View, partly in section and partly in elevation, of my improved washing-machine.

Figure 2 isa vertical sectional elevation, showing an end view of the agitator, and a side view of two of the perforated diaphragms. Y

Figure 'is a vertical centra-l section, showing the agitator, case, 0r tub, aud the hollow journal, for the escape of steam from the machine.

. Figure .4 is a plan or top view, showing the position of the perforated diaphragms, the agitator', the hollow journal, and the bearing or support for the same.

Corresponding `letters refer to corresponding parts in the severalgures.

A, in the dra-wings, represents a tub or vessel, which maybe of wood, hoopcd with iron, or it may be of any other suitable material, and of any capacity, to hold the required amount of material to be cleansed. For convenience in using, it should be open at its upper end, but should be supplied with a close-fitting cover, A', to be used when the cleansing-process is being periormcd, but which may be readily removed when such process is completed, so as to permit free access to the contents of the vessel, as well as to the vmachinery contained therein.

B- B represent peribrated diaphragms or plates, which are to be secured within the vessel A, in such a manner as that their inner sides shall present al1 angle to each other, substantially as shown in iig. 4 ofthe drawings, and thus leave a space or chamber between them, for the clothesor other material to be cleansed. It will be seen that the diaphragme or plates extend from the bottom of the vessel to near its top, and that they are perforated for the passage of water from the spaces outside of them.

O represent-san agitator, which consists of a thin piece of 'wood or met-al, placed ina vcrticatposition between the parts of the diaphragms, and which has upon its lower edge a journal or pivot, upon which it `turns, a step being provided upon the inner surface of the lower head for it to rest in. This agitator extends up nearly to the top ofthe diaphragms, and has secured to its upper edge a hollow journal, which serves to keep it in its position, and forms the axis upon which it turns.

I) represents a hollow journal, which is to be constructed with a flange upon its lower end, for the purpose of securing it to the agitator C; Above this flange the journal is to be made hollow, as shown in the drawings, in orderthat when the machine is in use, any steam, which may arise from the water, may escape, or any'air 'which may be contained in such vessel may find egress through this opening.

E represents a support or bearing, for the 4hollow journal D, which consists of a piece of metal or'of wood secured to the upper edges of the diaphragms, at or near the point. where they come in contact F represents a cross-bar, which is. secured tothe upper surface of the cover A', and projects beyond the outer surface of the same for a distance sutiicientto enable it to pass under the projecting portions ot' books H, which are secured to the outer surface of the vessel A, in such a manner that when the cover is placed upon such vessel, and partially rotated, the ends of this bar will passundcr said hooks, and thus press' saidcover down upon the edge ofthe vessel,

` thereby holding the cover in place, and causing it to form a tight joint with such vessel.

Gr represents a handle, which is to be placed upon the upper projecting end of the hollow journal, where it may be held by means of a set-screw, or any other suitable devices, so that it can be removed, when it is necessary to remove the cover from the vessel, but so that it will not turn upon said journal, when it is necessary to give motion to the agitator.

The opera-tion of my improved machine is as follows:

The parnts, having been constructed and arranged as described, the material to be cleansed is to be pla-ced in the compartments formed by the diaphragms, other than the one occupied by the agitator, when the water and other cleansing-1naterial are to be put into that portion of the machine occupied bythe agit-ator, the coverof the machine placedin position, andthe handle secured to the journal, when the agitator is to be oscillated through about mie-fourth of a revolution, which will cause the water or otherclcausing-material to be forced through the apertures iu the diaphragu'is and amongst the clothes, with great force, thus causing any substance, foreign .to such clothes, to be removed therefrom.

When the cleansing-process has been completed, the cover is to be removed and the clothes taken out, when the compartments may be again filled, and the operation repeated.

One important advantage arising from' my method lofwashing clothes is, that they are not pounded, rubbed,

or moved while being cleansed, aud consequently,

with each other, ithaving the proper opening in its centre for the passage of such journal.

are not Worn or otherwise injured, as in the other the hollow journal, substantially as and for the purmethods of washing or cleansing. pose set forth. l

Having thus described my invention, ln testimony whereof, I 11m-'e signed my name to Vhzit I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Paitthis specification, in the presence ot' two subscribing ent, s witnesses. 1. The combination and arrangement of the per- GEO, L, XVITSIL,

formed diaphrngms, the oscillating agitator', and the enclosing-vessel, substantially :is and for the purpose Witnesses: specified. FRED. Koomcs,

2. The combination of the oscillating agito-tor and A. RUPPERT. 

